Fans battle traffic, lines to see first NFL preseason match-up in Hawaii in 4 decades

Mon, 08/19/2019 - 11:22am

Source: Hawaii News Now

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Some 49,000 fans flocked to Aloha Stadium on Saturday to watch the Dallas Cowboys square off against the L.A. Rams in a highly-anticipated preseason game.

It was the first NFL preseason match-up to be played in Hawaii since 1976.

Kickoff took place just after 4 p.m., but fans got to the stadium hours earlier to grab parking and secure their spots in the stadium.

Some fans were in line before 7 a.m. The gates to the parking lot opened early at 10, and turnstile gates to the stadium began welcoming guests at 1 p.m.

At 1:40 p.m., Aloha Stadium took to social media to announce that parking was closed, and fans were urged to park at alternative sites.

Prior to the LA Rams/Dallas Cowboys Game, Tia Carerre and George Kahumoku Jr ‘high five’ after performing Hawaii Pono’i (Hawaii’s state song) at Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii, 8/17/19. Tia spoke affectionately to Samoa News about her family’s love for both Samoas and her family’s residency in the territory. [photo: Barry Markowitz, 2019]

One fan wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers cap said he’d gotten there by 8 a.m. Another man traveled from Hilo for the game, getting to the stadium with his family by 8:30 a.m.

Spectators said despite the lines and traffic, things stayed orderly.

NFL VIP guest and former Honolulu Mayor, Mufi Hannemann applauds the action at Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii, during the LA Rams vs the Dallas Cowboys pre-season football game. In both his Hawaii and Honolulu government capacities, Mufi has been a significant factor in keeping some form of NFL presence in Hawaii (NFL Pro Bowls and pre-season games). [photo by Barry Markowitz, 8/17/19.]